Collier County family has close call with panther

A Collier County mother was shocked after a panther leaped over her home's fence and into her backyard Wednesday afternoon.

Kasina Cusick said her children were taking care of the animals in the backyard of their Golden Gate Estates home when the big cat jumped over.

"She came into the house as I came flying out screaming and at that point, I was screaming trying to get it it leave because I was worried it was going to go after the rest of the livestock," said Cusick.

The panther grabbed a chicken, took it across the yard, and dropped it as it hopped over the electric fence to get away.

Cusick said the panther also attacked one of her goats. Fortunately, both animals survived.

The incident took place while Cusick's 8-year-old daughter was standing nearby.

"In between my house and the swing set, so my kids are out here every day playing on the swing set and the trampoline," she said.

State wildlife officials said panthers primarily move at dawn and dusk, which is why Cusick was so shocked.

"You don't expect it at 2 in the afternoon, and if kids were in school, if it wasn't summertime there would have been kids walking down the street so it's concerning," she said.

While there is no record of a Florida panther ever attacking a person, wildlife officials say don't run if you see one as that could provoke them to chase you.

Instead, they advise you to make eye contact, yell, and do whatever you can to make yourself appear bigger.

"I just want people to be aware, just because it's 2 p.m. in the afternoon doesn't mean that there's not a predator watching," said Cusick.